Who was Mohamed Yassar Yaqub?

Speaking from his home in Crosland Moor Mohammed Yaqub confirmed the death of his son but declined to comment further.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

A statement issued through a solicitor says: “Mr Yaqub’s family are in shock, and are distraught. They would ask the media to respect their privacy at this difficult time.

“The family are fully aware that the incident that led to the death of Mr Yaqub is currently being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and they do not wish to make any further comment at this stage.”

Mr Yaqub’s father Mohammed is a well-known local businessman and property owner in the Crosland Moor area of the town.

Mohammed Yassar Yaqub had himself been accused of another shooting but was acquitted.

Mohammed Yassar Yaqub, of Crosland Moor, who was shot dead by police on the M62 at Ainley Top.

Yaqub, 21 at the time he was in court, was accused of attempting to murder two men in Birkby in September, 2009.

It was claimed Mr Yaqub had been one of the gunmen who opened fire on a car being driven along Birkby Hall Road.

A trial Bradford Crown Court heard that after the incident the damaged Vauxhall Corsa was found to have a large hole in the front bonnet. Around 140 pellets from a shotgun had also struck the vehicle.

But Judge Geoffrey Marson QC threw out the prosecution case against Mr Yaqub.

Judge Marson was asked to review “inconsistencies” in the evidence of a witness and stressed that the case was an identification one and there was a need for special caution.

He told the court: “I regard his evidence as being dangerous and it cannot safely, in my view, be left to the jury even if there is some evidence capable of supporting his identification.”

After discharging the jury the judge formally recorded not guilty verdicts on the two charges of attempted murder and one of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life which Yaqub had denied.

What happened?

In the original statement last night, police said: "Around 6pm this evening (Monday January 2), during a pre-planned policing operation near to the M62 in Huddersfield a police firearm was discharged and a man has died.

This morning police issued an update this morning to say three men were arrested at the scene, while a further two men were arrested nearby at Chain Bar near Bradford.

Lindley councillor Gemma Wilson said she had seen 5-6 police cars on the roundabout and a Mercedes E class and a Jaguar at the centre of the incident.

She said: "It looks like a pretty big operation."

A spokesperson said: "We can confirm that there were five arrests in total during the operation, three from the incident above and a further two from a related stop of another vehicle in the Chain Bar area of Bradford at about the same time.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

“There are no further details at present. The incident remains with the Independent Police Complaints Commission for investigation.”

Then this afternoon, West Yorkshire Police revealed they were acting on information they received over a criminal possession of a firearm.

In a short update, a police spokesperson said: “ West Yorkshire Police can confirm the operation related to information received about criminal possession of a firearm, as a result of which vehicles were stopped at two separate locations."

What's happening now?

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said: "An immediate referral has been made to the Independent Police Complaints Commission who are in attendance in West Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Police are fully cooperating with their investigation."

The road reopened at about 6pm on Tuesday.

Two of the five men arrested in the operation were bailed on Wednesday. The two men are aged 26 and 30.

A statement from the IPCC said that what appears to be a non-police issue firearm was discovered in the vehicle in which Mr Yaqub was travelling, and is being further examined.

It said: "Mr Yaqub’s family has been informed and will be kept updated by an IPCC family liaison manager. A post mortem is due to take place tomorrow (4 January). HM Coroner has been informed.

"IPCC investigators are continuing to seek any relevant CCTV footage. Initial accounts from police officers involved have been obtained."

IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said: “My thoughts are with Mr Yaqub’s family and all those affected at this difficult time. Though in its early stages, this investigation is making good progress but will be complex.

"We will be working hard to establish exactly what happened and would ask for patience while our investigation continues.”